Odes to the Night

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Obscure

The night is —

the wide canvas
upon which the moon paints
his mysterious smile.

the rich backdrop
against which the stars dance
gleefully.

Dark, he lives in obscurity.
Alone, he is nobody.

Yet, without him —
The moon’s smile would be bereaved of its allure.
And the stars’ dance would lose its grandeur.

There won’t be starlit skies
under which lovers exchange dreamy sighs!



Nigh Shift

The night —

He hears
the young mothers’ lullabies.
the insomniac’s nightly cries.
the lovers’ secret sighs.
the children’s bedtime pray’rs, their hearts’ desires.

He sees
the sleeping souls’ dreams.
the steps sleepwalkers make.
the crimes every thief commits.
the owls’ flights to the wilderness.

The night —

Is busy.
Tonight.
Every night.
He, too, is on the night shift!


//Sherma E. Benosa